Hand-grenade.



H. E. ASBURY. HAND GRENADE.

y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. i915 1,284,713. Patented July31, 1917.

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HAND GRENADE. APlfLlcATloN FILED FEB. 18. 1916.

1,234,713. Patented Jul ,1917.

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H. E. ASBURY.

HAND GRENADE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, Ie. |916.

1 ',234,7 Patented July 31, 1917.

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HARRY E. ASBURY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAND-GRENADE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application led February 18, 1916. Serial No. 79,140.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. ASBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Hand-Grenades, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to munitions of war and more particularly'to explosive devices of the self-contained type. It consists of certain improvements in the mechanism for controlling the firing pin, or bolt, and an improved form of anvil, particularly applicable for use with that form of explosive device known as a hand grenade; the same comprising a hollow metal shell suitably formed and which may contain some form of high explosivematerial; such explosive material being set 0E by detonating means normally held out of action when the structure is not in use, but automatically brought into action by the release of means retaining a firing pin or bolt, which release is efl'ectedjust prior to the hurling by hand or other projection of the structure. While particularly applicable to structures of the hand grenade type, the mechanism constituting my invention, or simple modifications of the same within the scope of my invention, may be applied to other forms of explosive missiles; shrapnel and the like.

My invention relates more particularly to the means for holding the actuating mechanism in a quiescent state, or out of action.

prior to the projection of the structure; such means including an externally operable button or trigger, which may be manually operated or controlled, and which is designed to cock the retaining means and hold the same temporarily before they are released to permit the desired action of the firing pin or bolt. This release takes place after the grenade, shell, or other explosive structure has left thehand or other hurling member. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of anvil for the primary cap; such anvil having means whereby the time fuse will be positively retained and held against dislodgment due to the force of the explosion of such primary cap: with provision for venting the gases evolved by such explosion.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, qreference being had to the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure l, is a vertical section through one detonating ca form of hand grenade showing the releasng mechanism in the set and inactive posiion; Y

Fig. 2, is a sectional view of one end of the grenade showing the manner of cocking the releasing or ring mechanism;

Fig. 3, is aview similar to Fig. 1, showing the releasing mechanism displaced and the firing pin or bolt in contact With the primary iiring cap;

Fig. 4, is a sectional plan view on the line IIL-IV, Fig. l;

Fig. 5, is a sectional view of one end of the grenade illustrating a modified arrangement within the scope of my invention;

Fig. 6, is a sectional view on the 'line VI-VI, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, is a perspective-view of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8, is a perspective View pf the parts of one end of the hand grenade, detached;

Fig. 9, is a perspective view of the firing pin and anvil, detached;

Fig. 10, is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of anvil;

Fig. 11, is a sectional view illustrating a modiiied shape of hand grenade Within the scope of my invention;

Fig. 12, is av sectional view on the line XII-XII, Fig. 11, and

Fig. 13, is a sectional view illustrating still another form of hand grenade within the scope of my invention.

In Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, 1 represents the shell of a hand grenade of suitable size and weight, which may be made of cast metal, iron for instance; preferably scored or grooved externally in a plurality of directions as indicated at 2 in Figs. l and 3, and at 3 in Fig. 4, so that upon bursting, due to explosion of any contained material, the shell will separate into a great number of fragments. The shell may be provided with a loading opening 4 normally closed by a screw plug 5. i

Within the shell a casing 6 is mounted, having a chamber 7 for the reception of 'a ring pin 8, to which motion may be transmitted by a coiled spring 9 when the firing pin is released; such spring being normally compressed and held by means hereinafter described.

Adjacent the casing 6 is a casing 1.0 forming a tubular chamber 11, which contains a 12, while below the chamber 7 of said casing 6 is an anvil member 13,

vide a shoulder 15 for the rece tion of a disk-like member or plate 16, whlch is preferably provided with a seat 17 for said casing 6. In addition, the plate 16 carries the casing 10 having the chamber 11 receiving the detonating cap 12. l

Interposed between a closing plug 18 for the rear end of the grenade shell and said plate 16, which latter is also held in place by said closing plug, is the anvil 13 receiving one end of a time fuse 19 and a primary cap 20, and on which said cap may be exploded when struck by the firing pin 8. Because of the danger of the fuse being displaced or blown away from the anvil upon explosion of said primary cap, I preferably split the vend of the fuse and provide means for holding the split end to the anvil.

vThe anvil is notched on the under side as shown at 21 for the passage of the time fuse, and provided on the upper side with a recess 22; the split end of the fuse being arranged to be held in the bottom of this recess. The split portion of the fuse is spread apart as shown in the several views, and this is held in place by an axially disposed threaded plug 23, which actually receives the primary cap 20; a washer 24 being interposed between the end of said plug and said split end of the fuse. The latter is firmly confined place by said plug so that the force of the explosion can not drive it from the anvil. The washer is preferably corrugated as indicated, providing vent channels for the passage of gases generated by the explosion, and the plug 23 inserted in the'anvil is preferably provided with channels 25 40. whereby such gases may vent into the chamber 7 of the casing 6. Before setting the prlmary capin place, it may be desirable to drop a few grains of powder in the space formed by the' split end of the time fuse, and latter is of a regulable length so as to set off said detonating cap 12 within .a predetermined lapse of time.

. and co At the opposite end of the grenadeA shell, a shoulder 30 is provided, and seated on this shoulder is a cupped member 31 having a tubular flange 32 fitting vwithin the .upper end of' the casi-ng 6 and between 2which and a shoulder 33 on the firing pin 8 the '-colled spring 9is confined. The iange 32 ispreferably recessed at 34 and the end of the casing 6 may be spun into said recess. Mounted on top of the cupped member is a disk or\ late 35 which isv held in position ed in place byV a screw cap or plug 36 lclosing the ed of the shell.

` vided with a shouldered head 3 and, as 1ndlcated in the structure shown in Figs. 1,' 2,

The u per end of the firing i118 is proet seg. this head is engaged by supporting members or latches 38 of a peculiar shape,

which are disposed' in slots 39 formed in the plate 35 ;A each of said latches having a lfoot 40 adapted to engage the head of the firing pin, and a shoulder 41 resting upon said disk or plate 35. The supporting members or llatches 38 are spread apart at their upper ends and held 1n the operative position by an interposed member which may be in the form of a ring washer 4K2, notched at 43 to receive said latches; thereby insuring that the latter will be maintained in proper position to hold the iring pin out of action.

Centrally disposed wlth respect to the closing plug 36 is an externally operable releasing member or button 45 which projects beyond the grenade shell and may be manually movable; said button having a flange 46 engaging a seat 47 in said plug,`which button is heldwith its manually operable portion outwardly disposed by means of a coiled spring 48 interposed between the same (tting a recessed portion 49 thereof,) and the disk or plate 35; the latter having a eentral projection 50 whereby the spring may be maintained in proper position. Prior to use of the grenade structure and the operation of the button, the latter is held against movement by a key or cotter pin 51 which Vnay be passed through an aperture 52 in said button, externally of the shell.

Upon pressing the button 45 as indicated in Fig. 2, after removing the key 51, the retaining ring 42 for the latches 38 is displaced. The latches, however, are still held in their separated position, maintaining the firing pin out of action, by a depending tubular portion 53 of said button 45 which will occupy the position and perform the function of the displaced ring 42. Upon hurling the grenade, however, the spring 48 will restore the button to its normal position, thereby releasing the latches which in turn release the firing pin; said latches dropping down as illustrated in Fig. 3, whereupon the firing pin. will be forcibly moved by the spring 9 into contact with the primary firing cap 20; such firing pin being preferably provided with contact points or a striking rim 55 for engagement with said primary cap. The explosion of the primary cap ignites the fuse 19 which in' turn ignites or sets off the detonating cap 12, and the material within the shell is exploded by pressure created thereby..

In the structure' shown inpFigs. 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated an arrangement in which the latches 38 supporting the firing pin 8 are pivoted to the disk 35 ywithin the head of the grenade structure, and for this purpose the said disk may be provided with ears 56 struck up from'the same, which ears Aare downwardly depressed to form bearings for pivot pins 57 passing through said ears and through said latches 38.

The form of hand grenade shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is ovoidal in shape, but it will be may be employed, and in Figs. 11 and 12, Iv

have shown a structure substantially spherical in shape, which may be of the dimensions of a base ball or cricket ball; fitting the hand and comprising an object of familiar size and shape. The internal mechanism will `be the same or substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, with or without the modified details shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; excepting that some portions of such mechanism will be relatively Ismaller. In view of the shortening of the chamber of the casing 6, in the structure shown in Figs. 10 and 1l, it may be desirable to wrap or partially coil the casing for the detonating cap 12 around said casing 6, since otherwise the len h of the detonating cap Vwould be seriouslycontracted.

In Fig. 10, I have shown a modied form of anvil in which the recess 22 is slightly larger than that illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, et seg.; the plug 23 alsolbeing larger and therefore more easily handled. In this arrangement the upper end of the plug 23 will center the anvil in the plate 16. The other parts are the same as shown in Figs. 1, 3, et seg.

In the structure shown in Fig. 13, which is of the .same general character as those shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the release of theV latches 38 is controlled by an external lever 60, which is provided with a pin 61 whereby it may be pivotally mounted in ears 62 carried by a closing plug 36'. In this structure the cupped. member 31 is provided, with the disk or plate 35, and the latches 38 supporting the firing pin 8. Instead of a member 4.5 to cock the latches by releasing a spreader for the same, the plug 36a receives a pin 63 having a head 64 engaged by the end of the lever 60; the inner end of said pin 63 having a flange 65 for-separating the latches, and a projection 66 forA engagement with the ,strikin pin 8 when said pin 63 is released from t e external lever 60.

The pin 63 is maintained in the set position shown, by said lever 60 against the action of a stiff spring 67, interposed between the screw plug 36av and the flange 65. Imme- .diately the lever is released, the pin 63 will be forcibly moved inwardly by said spring 67; releasin the latches 38 which in turn release the El upon strikes the primary cap 20 for igniting the time fuse 19, as in the other structures.

The lever 6() is held in the inactiveposition by a pin 68 passin through ears 69 formed at the side of the s ell, and when it is to be thrown this pin 68 is removed. Upon release from the hand, the lever will be displaced and the pin 63 will be moved inwardly by the spring 67, displacing the lange 65, s reading the latches 38, and releasing the iiring pin. The ears 62 receiving the pin 61 whereby the lever is pivoted to the ing pinor bolt 8'which there-` screw plug 36a arenslotted at 70 so that the lever may be released therefrom when its disengagement with the pin 62 is effected.

ile I have'shown grenades in which the central portion is in one piece, Fig. 13,

`shows a form in which the shell is in two pieces; threaded together as at 71.

In the structure shown in Fig. 13, I may also provide an' anvil 13a that is in one piece with a disk or plate 16, and is screwed into the end of a shell. In this arrangement, the anvil may be backed by a screw plug 72 in the end of the grenade shell and the anvil may project above the disk or plate 16 and receive the end of the casing 6. The primary cap 20a receiving the end of the time fuse 19 may be corrugated or threaded as indicated at 73 so as to retain said fuse against displacement upon explosion of the primary cap.

If desired, to protect the firing mechanism and the anvil from gases, fumes or other deteriorating influences emanating from the' charge of explosive within the chamber of the shell 1 and surrounding the casing 6 and l0, washers of suitable material may be in- Iterposed between the end of the casing 6 and its seat on the plate ,16, as indicated at 74; between the shoulder 15 of said casing and said plate 16, as indicated at 75, and between the cup 31 and its seat on the shoulder or flange 30 of the shell, as indicated at 76.

The internal shell 6 and various other parts of the internal mechanism may be made of aluminum, and preferably are made' of such material, although the use of such material is not essential to the operation of the structure.

In some instances it may be unnecessary to 'l the explosive shell with any explosive material, high explosive or not, since I have found in practice that it is possible to shatter the shell with the use of detonating caps of a high explosive character.

. While I have shown and described certain elements of my improved structure with more or less particularity, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction .or arrangements illustrated, and the claims are designed to cover the constructions shown as \well as all mechanical equivalents of the same.

I claim:

1. In a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin and a slotted plate confined to said shell, means for actuating said iring pin, of means for supporting said firing pin against the operation of its actuating means including a 'plurality of latches loosely mounted in the slots of said plate, a ring for maintaining said latches in supporting position, a manually operable button for displacing said ring, and a spring for restoring said button to its normal position.

2; In a hand grenade, the combination vwith a, shell having a detonating cap, a lirbutton for displacing said'ring.

A hand grenade comprising a-hollow shell, separable caps closing the ends of said shell, annular partition members confined in place by said caps, chambers carrying explosive members between said partitions,

- said explosive members including a primary cap, a striking bolt for exploding said cap,

retaining means for said bolt loosely mounted in one of said annular partition members,

andan externally projecting member for releasmg said retaining means.

4. The combination, in a hand grenade, of

v a casing, an anvil mounted in said casing arranged to receive the split end of a fuse, means in engagement with said split end for retaining said fuse in place, and a primary` cap mounted in said anvil.

5. In a hand grenade, the combination w1th a shell having within the same a detonating cap, a time fuse and a primary cap,

of an anvil for said primary cap, said anvil having a .recess receiving the end of the fuse, land a threaded plug receiving the cap for holding said time fuse in place.

6. The combination, in a hand grenade, of a shell, a detonating cap, a fuse and a primary cap mounted in said shell, an anvil receiving said cap, means for conning the fuse to said anvil, and a venting washer disposed in saidanvil over the fuse.

7. The combination, in a hand grenade, of a striking bolt, an anvil, a r primary cap mounted in said anvil and exploded by the striking bolt, a fuse ignited by said primary cap, and means for holding said fuse to the anvil including a vented plug.

8l In a hand grenade, the combination "with al shell` having within the same a detonatingl cap,"a time fuse and a primary cap, of anl anvil for said primary-cap, said anvil havmg a recess receiving the end of the I fuse, a threaded plug receiving the cap for holding said time fuse in place, and a ventilg washer interposed between said fuse and u p 9i; The combination, in an explosive shell, of a hollow body, detachableclosures for the ends of the same, partitions disposed within said hollow body, a tubular member confined between said partitions and spun into engagement with one of the same, a twopart anvil interposed between one of the closures and a partition, a primary cap carried by said anvil, a detonating cap, a fuse interposed between said caps, means for confining one en d of the fuse within the 'twopart anvil, a movable plunger within the tubular member, a spring for impelling the same, latches movably mounted in one of said partitions for supporting said movable plunger, a' spreader for maintaining said latches in the active position, and a movable member, externally operable, for displacing said spreader to release said movable plunger.

10. The combination, in an explosive shell, of a hollow body, detachable closures for the ends of the same, partitions disposed within saidhollow body, a tubular member confined between said partitions, said shell containing i explosive members with meansfor exploding the same and means for controlling the 'operation of the exploding means, and washers interposed between the partitions and the seats in the shell for the same and between the tubular member and the partitions.

11. The combination with an explosive member including a detonating cap, of a firing pin for said cap, means for imparting movement to said firing pin, a plate secured within the 'explosive member at one end of the same, latches movably `mounted in said plate for retaining said firing pin in the inactive position, Ameans for holding said latches in the active position, an externally operable member for displacingl said latches whereby the {iring pin may be released, and a spring for maintaining said externally operable member projected outward and for restoring it to such position after the latch holding means have een displaced whereby the latches can release the ring pin. HARRY E. ASBURY. 

